Stockholm

Stockholm is a city of contrasts. Trends in music, design, fashion, and technology are born here, and innovations that spread worldwide are invented here. Trendy bars and world-class restaurants are shoulder-to-shoulder with historic cafes and cozy neighborhood pubs.

Stockholm is simultaneously urban and close to nature and water is an ever-present feature in this city where lake and sea meet. The atmosphere is open, tolerant and welcoming, and diversity and innovation are encouraged. Stockholm is a city for everyone.

The City

Stockholm, one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, is built on 14 islands connected by 57 bridges. The buildings, cutting-edge design, hip style, the fresh air and the proximity to the water are distinctive traits of this city. Ekoparken, the first National City Park in the world, is a green space that breathes for the city, and a constant presence in the crush of the city. With its 750 year history and rich cultural life, Stockholm offers a wide selection of world-class museums and attractions. Most of the city’s attractions can be reached on foot, and there’s a good chance of experiencing a lot of things in a short time. Experience big-city life, the history of civilization and natural scenery, all in the course of the same day.

District guides

Stockholm is divided into many distinctive neighborhoods and quarters each with their own unique character. Here you can learn more about some of the most popular ones.

Vasastan

Gamla Stan

Djurgården

Södermalm

Kungsholmen

Norrmalm/City

Östermalm

Do & See

Big and small. Well-known and unique. Classics like the Vasa Museum and modern newcomers like ABBA The Museum and Fotografiska. In Stockholm, there are more than a hundred attractions to choose from.

Hidden Stockholm

The Nobel Museum

Museum of Spirits

The Bergian Garden

Royal Swedish Opera

The Vasa Museum

ABBA The Museum

Millesgården

Take a swim

Stockholm Ghost Walk

Stockholm Subway Stations

Old Town - Gamla Stan

Paddle in the city

Stockholm City Hall

Royal Canal Tour

Millennium Tour

The Royal Palace

Drottningholm Palace

Gröna Lund's Amusement Park

Junibacken

Moderna Museet

Nordiska museet

Waldemarsudde

Skansen

SkyView

Swedish History Museum

Stockholm Concert Hall

Museum of Medieval Stockholm

Tom Tits Experiment

Dining

Stockholm has experienced a culinary boom the last couple of years. Now everything, it seems, evolves around food. New venues are opening one after another. Here are some of our best tips!

The Spritmuseum restaurant

Lux Dag för Dag

Ulla Winbladh

Speceriet

Gastrologik

Ekstedt

Lilla Ego

Mathias Dahlgren

Nybrogatan 38

Story Hotel

Prinsen

Bistro Barbro

Den Gyldene Freden

Oaxen Krog & Slip

The Flying Elk

Cafes

Going for a FIKA is a very Swedish thing. Though difficult to translate it basically means to meet up for a coffee and a piece of cake or pastry. Sweden enjoys a highly developed culture when it comes to baked goods, and everywhere in Stockholm you’ll find cafés and cake shops brimming with atmosphere, character and quality, whether traditional or contemporary-creative.

Flickorna Helin Voltaire

Gildas rum

Tössebageriet

Drop Coffee

Louie Louie

Café Sirap

Chaikhana

Chokladkoppen

Petite France

Sturekatten

Bianchi Café & Cycles

Fåfängan restaurant and café

Rosendals Garden Café

Vete-Katten

Bars & Nightlife

How about clubbing in an opera house, mingling under the stars on a terrace or lounging on a boat deck sipping drinks? Stockholm has trendy nightlife, from cool, sophisticated Stureplan to the bohemian clubs and bars of Södermalm and Gamla Stan. In the summertime, the city’s nightlife moves outdoors and revellers take in long, light nights when the sun never sets. These are Stockholm’s party neighbourhoods:

Stureplan
In Stockholm, Stureplan is the symbol of luxury and indulgence. This is where the young, rich, famous and trendy hang out. Lines are long for the most popular clubs, and many have selective entry. Arrive early.

Södermalm
Rock, reggae, rockabilly, bohemian, electronic, gay or lesbian. Södermalm blends all styles. This is a more relaxed, less expensive alternative to the luxury of Stureplan. Nightlife spots are primarily in Slussen, Mariatorget, Nytorget and Medborgarplatsen.

Gamla Stan
Nightlife in Gamla Stan is characterized by small, intimate pubs with traditional interiors. Here you will find several bars with an older scene and offering live music; bars with a younger crowd have popped up in recent years.

LGBTQ
Stockholm has no specifically gay neighbourhood. You can show your love openly. Locales flying rainbow flags are sprinkled throughout the city, but most gay bars, clubs and restaurants are in Gamla Stan and Södermalm.

Scandic Grand Central

Tweed

Sturecompagniet

Riche

Södra bar

Cliff Barnes

Story Hotel

Casino Cosmopol Stockholm

Golden Hits

Hell's Kitchen

Morfar Ginko

Pet Sounds Bar

Solidaritet

Spy Bar

Shopping

It is hard to name the best place to experience Swedish design, not because of any shortage, but because design permeates everything—from the streets to shops and restaurants. Stockholm has four shopping neighbourhoods, each with its own special character.

City/Norrmalm
City is a hub for malls and department stores. Major clothing chains are also found here. Fashion is geared toward a younger crowd and tends to be affordable. By all means, don’t miss any of the newer malls and department stores, PUB, Illums Bolighus and MOOD, or the exclusive NK.

Östermalm
Östermalm is Stockholm’s exclusive neighbourhood. Most international brands and speciality shops focusing on design, fashion and jewellery are around Stureplan and Birger Jarlsgatan. Find Sweden’s leading fashion brands around Biblioteksgatan and the area known as Bibliotekstan. Auction houses and exclusive antique shops are located along Arsenalsgatan and Nybrogatan. The area bordered by Sibyllegatan, Östermalmstorg, Karlavägen, Stureplan and Strandvägen has some of the city’s best interior design shops.

Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan is so much more than Västerlånggatan, the touristy souvenir street. Visit Gamla Stan in your hunt for authentic handicrafts, art and curiosities. Many small speciality shops and true gems can be found here, especially along Köpmangatan and Österlånggatan. Stroll along Lilla and Stora Nygatan, or lose the map and wander freely. Gamla Stan is not big.

Södermalm
The southern island, Södermalm, is like a city within a city with its characteristic relaxed, bohemian vibe. Here you will find many speciality shops, particularly ones featuring design and vintage fashion. Central areas of Södermalm include Götgatan, Skånegatan and the area known as SoFo, which stands for South of Folkungagatan. A cluster of handicraft shops can be found around Slussen and along Hornsgatan, while Hornstull and Mariatorget are popular up-and-coming neighbourhoods.

Nordiska Galleriet

Grandpa

NK - Nordiska Kompaniet

Sturegallerian

Pärlans konfektyr

Granit

Nudie

Filippa K

Coctail

Biblioteksgatan

Drottninggatan

Gallerian

Gamla Stan

Åhléns City

Essential Information

Airports

Stockholm has four airports. Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the biggest international airport, and Bromma is closest to the city. Skavsta and Västerås are located about 80 minutes south and west of Stockholm, respectively.

The fastest way to travel between Stockholm and Arlanda is via the Arlanda Express. The train takes 20 minutes. Two bus companies, Swebus and Flygbussarna, serve all four airports. The bus from Arlanda takes 45 minutes.

From Bromma, the bus takes about 20 minutes; from Skavsta and Västerås, it takes about 80 minutes. You can also get to Stockholm Arlanda Airport via public transportation (SL) or using the Stockholm Card with the purchase of a supplementary ticket.

Stockholm is often praised for its comfortable, efficient and safe transportation. Stockholm Public Transport, SL, is responsible for buses, underground trains, commuter trains, trams and certain ferry lines in Greater Stockholm.

The underground is the easiest way to get around town. The city is divided into three zones, and zone tickets are good for several trips within the hour. Tickets can be purchased at SL Centers, underground platform barriers, newsagent kiosks or via SMS. It's not possible to pay cash for tickets on board buses in Stockholm. Most bus stops have ticket machines that take both coins and cards.

Prepaid cards are the best alternative for those making few trips. It's also possible to buy 1, 3, or 7-day cards, which allow free travel in all zones during the validity period.

A trip on the number 69 bus or number 7 tram is a superb way to discover Stockholm. The lines go out to Djurgården and major attractions like Skansen and the Vasa Museum.

Stockholmers are always heedful of their beautiful surroundings, and this has led to many inner city buses running on eco-friendly fuels such as ethanol. The Stockholm underground is also known as the world's longest art gallery as so many of its stations are adorned with the works of different artists.

Phone: +46 8 600 10 00

Website: www.sl.se/en

Local boat transportation

Travelling by local ferries is a fantastic way to experience a city built on islands. Ferries are used by both commuters and tourists wanting to take a better look around.

There are ample ferry departures from Nybroviken and Slussen out to the leafy island of Djurgården. An SL Card includes ferries from Slussen and you can also buy single tickets on the quay.

Phone: +46 8 600 10 00

Website: www.sl.se/en

Ferries and cruise ships

Several major ferry lines serve the countries around the Baltic Sea, and Stockholm's harbors are centrally located. Stockholm is also a popular cruise destination and every year around 300 cruise liners from all over the world put in to the city. The approach through the beautiful Stockholm archipelago with its 30,000 islands is an experience in itself. Read more about ferries and cruising to Stockholm below.

Taxi

There are many taxi companies to choose from in Stockholm. Approved taxis with metered fares always bear yellow number plates. Credit cards are readily accepted.

NOTE: Taxi prices are not regulated in Sweden; they may vary greatly. It is the customer’s responsibility to check prices beforehand. Check the price on the yellow-and-white label (pictured in the right corner above), which is usually on the rear door window, before entering the vehicle. The highest unit price of most taxis is between SEK 290 - 390.

The price on the yellow label is based on a 10 km, 15-minute journey. The price indicated on the taximeter is in Swedish kronor. For trips to and from Stockholm Arlanda Airport the major taxi companies have fixed prices of between SEK 450-500. Always ask the driver beforehand. In addition to the major taxi companies there are several independent firms; caution is adviced.

You can easily get hold of a taxi by calling a taxi company, hailing one on the street or by taking a one from a rank, e.g. at NK on Hamngatan. There is a manned taxi centre at Central Station that can help you with finding the right service, e.g. if you need child seats in the vehicle.

Several of the big Stockholm taxi companies have a very high proportion of eco-vehicles. A new rota system gives priority to cabs with low carbon emission levels.

Email: kund@taxistockholm.se

Phone: 08-15 00 00

Website: https://www.taxistockholm.se/sv/

More Information: 08-728 27 00 customerservice

Post Office

'Posten' no longer has post offices. Stamps are available for purchase at most kiosks, newsstands and convenience stores. Ask at the cash register.

Pharmacy

Apoteket C W Scheele

Address: Klarabergsgatan 64, Stockholm

Email: kundservice@apoteket.se

Phone: +46 77 145 04 50

Website: www.apoteket.se

Telephone

Country Code: +46

Area Code: 08

Electricity

220V/50Hz

WiFi spots

Don't worry about roaming charges, there are plenty of free Wi-Fi spots around the city. Free WiFi Map for iPhone and WiFi Finder for Android are apps that can help you find free WiFi.
Stockholm is frequently ranked as one of the most connected cities in the world, and thanks to pioneering IT infrastructure Stockholmers are spoiled with high surf speeds. For example, Stockholm was the first city in the world to introduce publicly available 4G.

Here is a selection of locations with free WiFi:
Stockholm Visitor Center
Name: "Homerun Wireless Zone". Ask the staff for a code.
Stockholm Arlanda Airport
Name: "Airport-Guest" (Free for three hours)
Central Station Stockholm and Cityterminalen
Name: "All Station Guests"

Free WiFi for guests is very common in cafes and hotels in Stockholm. For example coffee chains like Waynes Coffee, Espresso House and Pressbyrån and hotels like the Radisson Hotels, Scandic Hotels, First Hotels and Nordic Choice Hotels, to mention a few. Ask the staff for details.

STOCKHOLM –ARLANDA 20 MINUTES

Arlanda Express is the fastest way to travel between Stockholm – Arlanda Airport and Stockholm City. The journey takes maximum 20 minutes.
Trains depart six times every hour during peak hours, and every fifteen minutes at other times. For more information, timetable and fares, please visit us at: www.arlandaexpress.com

Website: www.arlandaexpress.com

Passport/Visa

Sweden can be visited visa-free for up to 90 days by citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Israel, UAE and most countries in America. If you are unsure whether or not you need to apply for a visa, we recommend contacting the embassy or consulate in your country. International (non-Schengen) travelers need a passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the end of their intended trip in order to enter the Schengen zone. Citizens of Schengen countries can travel without a passport, but must have a valid ID with them during their stay.

Best time to Visit

For many, the weather plays a big role when planning a trip and if you are one of them, you should visit Stockholm during summer, which is from May to August. The weather is warmest from May to August, and the daylight lasts longer. It is also in May as the flowers begin to grow and adorn the city beautifully. Although the temperatures can sometimes drop by night, so make sure to bring a sweater or a jacket.

If you do not think warmer weather plays such a big part, the winter is really beautiful in Stockholm, but it gets extremely cold from December to February. The snow begins to fall over the city and Christmas time is soon approaching. If you like snow, Christmas light, hot chocolate and gingerbread cookies, this is the best time to visit Stockholm.